HC Deb 15 March 1886 vol 303 cc802-4
DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been called to a statement in The Daily News of the 10th instant, to the effect that H.M.S. Diamond had recently returned to Sydney, after an absence of three months spent in punishing natives in various parts, for murders committed by them on British subjects; whether it is true, as stated, that, at various points mentioned, villages were shelled and burned, nets and canoes destroyed, and cocoa-nut plantations laid waste; and, whether, in view of the allegations that— The feeling on the station is that the natives have been punished with undue severity, as they simply sought to avenge themselves on unscrupulous 'labour traders' who have tried to carry them off as slaves to the Northern Queensland sugar plantations, he will cause any Despatches explanatory of the operations to be laid before Parliament?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN) (Denbighshire, E.)

My attention has been called to the statement in The Daily News referred to in the Question of my hon. Friend. On the 18th of December last a despatch, dated October 20 last, was received from the late Sir Peter Scratchley, High Commissioner for New Guinea, in which he stated that after consultation with Captain Clayton, the Commander of the Diamond, it was decided that they should together visit the scenes of the several outrages which had to be investigated. After their investigations were completed, Sir Peter Scratchley proposed to submit for the information of the Colonial Office a General Report upon the whole subject. This Report has not yet been received. The delay in receiving it has probably been caused by the death of Sir Peter Scratchley.

MR. J. A. BLAKE (Carlow)

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether he has received any Report with regard to certain alleged operations of H.M.S. Diamond against the natives of some of the Islands in the Pacific, as stated in The Daily News and Te'egraph of 10th and 11th instants; and, if not, if he will cause inquiry to be made as to their truth, and as to the instructions given to the Captain of the Diamond, and the Report of that officer as to the manner in which he carried them out; and, if he will lay the information, when received, upon the Table of the House?

THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. R. W. DUFF) (Banffshire)

The only official information that has been received on this subject is the following extract from a letter dated January 14:— The Diamond has arrived at Sydney from New Guinea on the 12th, and particulars of the cases of outrages by natives which Captain Clayton has recently investigated will shortly be forwarded to their Lordships. As soon as this Report has been received I will communicate with the hon. Member, in order that he may renew his Question.